How To Identify Your Furnace Or Other Heating System?

It is essential to know the type of home interior heating device you have. It will help you take care of it properly. Timely maintenance of a heating system is necessary to keep the heating costs low, extend the device’s life, and ensure its optimum performance. A well-maintained room heating appliance will not give you any trouble during the cold season when it is used most. The following information provided by the heating system repair experts will help you identify your heating device.

Furnace Heaters

This type of heating system runs on propane, oil, natural gas, or electricity. It is sometimes referred to as a forced-air system. Furnaces are the preferred devices to heat the home interiors. In such a system, the air heated inside the furnace is distributed throughout the house via ductwork. Furnaces are generally installed in the closets, attics, basements, and crawlspaces. Consult our expert heating system technicians if you are unable to decide whether a gas, electric, or oil furnace is right for your heating needs. You will receive expert opinion and proper guidance in selecting the right furnace for your home.

Is It a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is generally preferred in the areas that see moderate climate. This type of device has both cooling and heating capabilities and runs on electricity. It is typically a split system with one indoor unit and one outdoor unit. During the winter months, it is used for the heating purpose while in the summer months it cools the interiors. It requires ductwork to move the air to different interior areas, but ductless versions are also available.

How do you identify if your heating system is a heat pump? Check the device’s outdoor unit. It will have a label that clearly states if it is an air conditioner or a heat pump. You will find a model number printed on the label. Type this number in an online search engine, and you will immediately learn all details about your heating system. It is a heat pump if you see horizontal brass pipes in the condensing unit. Another way to identify the device is to check the thermostat. Presence of any emergency heat setting system on the thermostat indicates it is a heat pump.

Underground Geothermal Heat Pump

This type of device takes advantage of the constant temperature present under the earth to cool or heat the air going inside the building. These devices are highly energy-efficient and operate quietly. The high upfront cost is its biggest drawback. You also need proper land area on your property to install its underground parts.

Boilers

A boiler has two parts. There is a furnace to provide the heat and a vessel to store the water. The water is first heated by the furnace. The resulting steam is taken through the pipes to the radiators that heat the indoor air. Boilers generally run on natural gas, oil, propane or electricity. The heat is distributed inside the rooms using a baseboard radiator, radiant heat flooring system, or a coil that heats the air. Its excess heat is often used to heat the bathroom and kitchen water.

Packaged Units

These systems generally run on gas or electricity. All its parts are inside a single cabinet that is installed outside the house on a slab or the roof. It has both cooling and heating functions, so you do not need a separate indoor furnace. It distributes the heat or air inside the home through ductwork.

Inspect Any Heating System Safely

If you are unable to locate the main heating system installed in your home, follow the route of the ductwork. It will lead you to the main heating system. Perform only visual inspection and avoid physically handling any part of your heating system if you are not sure how to remain safe when inspecting such a device.

Avoid any DIY repair and maintenance of such devices. Always call a heating system expert for these services. There are regular news reports of homeowners being injured when they tried to inspect, repair, or maintain their heating and cooling systems by self. Avoid such risks by taking help of trained heating and AC systems technicians.